Method for manufacturing rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder and rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder

ABSTRACT

A method for manufacturing a rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder comprising 40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer, satisfying the following conditions (1) to (4):(1) at least first and second coagulation baths are provided;(2) the first and second coagulation baths are connected;(3) an emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide is supplied to the connecting part in an amount of 0.2 parts by mass to 2.0 parts by mass (solid content) with respect to 100 parts by mass (solid content) of a slurry; and(4) a temperature in the second coagulation bath is equal to or higher than a temperature in the first coagulation bath.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing arubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder and the rubber-reinforcedstyrenic resin powder.

BACKGROUND ART

As an improvement in the storage stability (ease of sticking) of arubbery polymer-containing resin powder, for example, Patent Literature1 discloses a method of adding an anticaking agent through a specificstep.

CIATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.H10-279640

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, the method described in Patent Literature 1 is stillinsufficient from the viewpoint of continuous productivity. The presentinvention makes it a first object to provide a manufacturing method fora rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder which is excellent incontinuous productivity and antisticking property.

Moreover, Patent Literature 1 describes that a powder having few finesand excellent storage stability is obtained by adding an anticakingagent through a specific step. Patent Literature 1 relates to animprovement in storage stability for a powder with few fines, but apowder with many fines typically tends to have closest packing and lessstorage stability. Therefore, the improvement in antisticking propertyof a powder containing many fines is still insufficient. The presentinvention makes it a second object to provide a rubber-reinforcedstyrenic resin powder which has an excellent antisticking property evenfor the powder with many fines.

Solution to Problem

As a result of intensive investigations, the present inventors havesolved the above first object by providing at least first and secondcoagulation baths and defining the timing of adding an emulsifieddispersion of fatty acid amide and a temperature of coagulation bath,and have found the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides the following [1].

-   [1] A method for manufacturing a rubber-reinforced styrenic resin    powder comprising 40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer,    satisfying the following conditions (1) to (4):-   (1) at least first and second coagulation baths are provided;-   (2) the first and second coagulation baths are connected;-   (3) an emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide is supplied to the    connecting part in an amount of 0.2 parts by mass to 2.0 parts by    mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of slurry solid content; and-   (4) a temperature in the second coagulation bath is equal to or    higher than a temperature in the first coagulation bath.

As a result of intensive investigations, the present inventors havesolved the above second object by the presence of the fatty acid amideon the surface of the powder in a specific coverage even for arubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder with many fines, and have foundthe present invention.

That is, the present invention provides the following [2].

-   [2] A rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder comprising 40% by mass    or more of a rubbery polymer, and having more than 4.0% by mass of    the powder passing through a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh    (according to JIS G3555-2004) made of stainless steel wire with a    wire diameter of 0.10 mm, wherein a fatty acid amide is present on    50% or more of the powder surface.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the method for manufacturing a rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder of the present invention, the rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder including 40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer hasexcellent continuous productivity and further sticking of the powder issuppressed, thus providing a powder excellent in storage stability andhandling property.

In addition, according to the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder ofthe present invention, the powder which has excellent storage stabilityand handling of the powder is obtained, due to suppression of stickingof the powder even when the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder isone which has a content of 40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer andmore than 4.0% by mass of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plainweave wire mesh (according to JIS G 3555-2004) made of stainless steelwire with a wire diameter of 0.10 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of theapparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment ofthe apparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed.

First Embodiment: Method of Manufacturing Rubber-Reinforced StyrenicResin Powder

The first embodiment is a method for manufacturing a rubber-reinforcedstyrenic resin powder comprising 40% by mass of a rubbery polymer, themethod satisfying the above conditions (1) to (4).

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder obtained by themanufacturing method of the present embodiment is obtained bycoagulating the latex of the graft copolymer (A) obtained by an emulsionpolymerization method with a styrenic monomer as an essential component,or a latex mixture of the latex of the graft copolymer (A) and thecopolymer (B) obtained by an emulsion polymerization method with astyrenic monomer as an essential component (hereinafter, the latex ofthe graft copolymer (A) or a latex mixture of the latex of the graftcopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B) obtained by an emulsionpolymerization method with a styrenic monomer as an essential componentis also collectively referred to as “latex raw material”).

Examples of the rubbery polymer constituting the graft copolymer (A)used for the manufacturing method of the present embodiment includebutadiene-based rubbery polymers such as polybutadiene,styrene-butadiene copolymer, and acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer;ethylene-propylene-based rubbery polymers such as ethylene-propylenecopolymer and ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer; (meth) acrylic rubberypolymers mainly composed of a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer such asbutyl acrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate; silicone rubbery polymers;composite rubbery polymers of butadiene-based rubbery polymer/(meth)acrylic rubbery polymer; composite rubbery polymers of silicone rubberypolymer/(meth) acrylic rubbery polymer; and chlorinated polyethylenerubber. These can be used singly or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the monomer capable of graft polymerization on the rubberypolymer of the graft copolymer (A) used for the manufacturing method ofthe present embodiment include aromatic vinyl monomers such as styreneand α-methylstyrene as essential ones; vinyl cyanide monomers such asacrylonitrile; (meth) acrylic acid ester monomers such as methylmethacrylate; maleimide monomers; amide monomers; and unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomers. These can be used singly or in combination oftwo or more.

Examples of the monomer of copolymer (B) used for the manufacturingmethod of the present embodiment include aromatic vinyl monomers such asstyrene and α-methylstyrene as essential ones; vinyl cyanide monomerssuch as acrylonitrile; (meth) acrylic acid ester monomers such as methylmethacrylate; maleimide monomers; amide monomers; and unsaturatedcarboxylic acid monomers. These can be used singly or in combination oftwo or more.

The graft copolymer (A) and the copolymer (B) used for the manufacturingmethod of the present embodiment can be obtained by a known emulsionpolymerization method.

Examples of the emulsifier used for an emulsion polymerization methodinclude aliphatic carboxylates such as potassium oleate, dipotassiumalkenyl succinate, and sodium rosinate; alkyl benzene sulfonates such assodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate; aliphatic sulfonates such as sodiumlauryl sulfate; alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonates; sulfuric acid estersalts of higher alcohols; formalin condensate of naphthalene sulfonicacid; anionic surfactants such as sulfuric acid ester salts of nonionicsurfactants; and nonionic surfactants such as alkyl ester type, alkylphenyl ether type, alkyl ether type of polyethylene glycol. These can beused singly or in combination of two or more.

Examples of the initiator used for an emulsion polymerization methodinclude reducing agents such as persulfates such as potassiumpersulfate, sodium persulfate, and ammonium persulfate, and as redoxtype initiators, sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate, sodium formaldehydesulfoxylate, ascorbic acid, and ferrous sulfate; and oxidizing agentssuch as potassium peroxodisulfate, hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide,cumene hydroperoxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, acetyl peroxide,diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylhydroperoxide.

The content of the rubbery polymer in the rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder obtained by the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment is 40% by mass or more and is more preferable to be 50% bymass or more. The content of 40% by mass or more of the rubbery polymercan improve design freedom of components of the final compositioncontaining the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin so as to contribute toproduct specialization. The upper limit of the content of the rubberypolymer is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be 90% bymass or less.

The content of the rubbery polymer in the rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder can be adjusted by the content of the rubbery polymerconstituting the graft copolymer (A) or mixing the graft copolymer (A)with the copolymer (B) in a latex state.

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder obtained by themanufacturing method of the present embodiment can be obtained bycoagulating the latex of the graft copolymer (A), or mixing the latex ofthe graft copolymer (A) with the latex of the copolymer (B) andcoagulating them.

Examples of the coagulating agent used for coagulation include inorganicacids such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, andnitric acid; organic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid; andinorganic acid metal salts such as magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride,and aluminum sulfate. These can be used singly or in combination of twoor more.

The coagulation step of the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment is supplying 0.2 parts by mass to 2.0 parts by mass (solidcontent) of the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide with respectto 100 parts by mass (solids content) of the slurry to the connectingpart, in which at least first and second coagulation baths are providedand these first and second coagulation baths are connected by a pipe orthe like. Furthermore, it is characterized by that the temperature inthe second coagulation bath is equal to or higher than the temperaturein the first coagulation bath (the temperature in the second coagulationbath is equal to or higher than the temperature in the first coagulationbath).

The coagulating agent is supplied to the first coagulation bath or thefirst and the second coagulation baths. The amount supplied ispreferable to be 2.0 parts by mass to 8.0 parts by mass (solid content)with respect to 100 parts by mass (solid content) of the slurry and morepreferable to be 3.5 parts by mass to 6.5 parts by mass (solid content).

The basis of the amount of the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amideand the coagulating agent supplied may be 100 parts by mass in terms ofthe solid content of the latex raw material, instead of the above “100parts by mass (solid content) of the slurry”.

Examples of the fatty acid amide in the emulsified dispersion of fattyacid amide used for the manufacturing method of the present embodimentinclude oleic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, stearic acid amide, andethylene bis stearic acid amide. The method of emulsification anddispersion is not particularly limited, and examples thereof includemechanical dispersion such as a bead mill and a melt dispersion methodsuch as a phase inversion method. The type of the emulsifier used foremulsification and dispersion is also not particularly limited, andknown emulsifiers can be used. The emulsified dispersion of fatty acidamide is preferable to have an average particle size of 1.0 gm or lesswhich is confirmed by the dynamic light scattering method.

The emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide is added to the portionconnecting the first and the second coagulation baths. Thereby, theslurry and the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide are efficientlycontacted, allowing the fatty acid amide to be efficiently present onthe surface of the powder. Therefore, sticking of the obtained powdercan be suppressed.

The amount of the emulsified dispersion of a fatty acid amide suppliedis 0.2 parts by mass to 2.0 parts by mass (solid content) with respectto 100 parts by mass (solid content) of the slurry, and is preferable tobe 0.3 parts by mass to 1.5 parts by mass and is more preferable to be0.4 parts by mass to 1.0 parts by mass (solid content).

The temperature in the first coagulation bath is preferable to be 70 to95° C., and more preferable to be 80 to 90° C. The temperature in thesecond coagulation bath is equal to or higher than the temperature inthe first coagulation bath and is preferable to be 3 to 28° C. higher.Thereby, a powder with good dewaterability and high bulk density isobtained. The temperature in the second coagulation bath is preferableto be 85 to 98° C. and is more preferable to be 90 to 98° C. The slurryconcentration is preferable to be 20 to 30% from the viewpoint ofproductivity and is more preferable to be 22 to 28%.

The slurry is supplied to the second coagulation bath, and then may besupplied to the third coagulation bath connected thereto. The slurrycompletely coagulated is removed continuously from the coagulation bath,washed with water, dehydrated, and dried, allowing to obtain arubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder.

For the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder obtained by coagulation,it is preferable that the fatty acid amide is present on 50% or more ofthe surface of the powder. The presence of the fatty acid amide in theabove range can further suppress the sticking of the powder.

The coverage of the fatty acid amide on the surface of the powder can bemeasured using a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry(TOF-SIMS method).

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of anapparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment. The apparatus in FIG. 1 comprises the first coagulation bath1, the second coagulation bath 2, and a connecting pipe 3 connecting thefirst coagulation bath 1 and the second coagulation bath 2 at an upperportion. Raw materials such as the latex material, a coagulating agent,and water are supplied to the first coagulation bath 1 from raw materialsupply ports 5 a, 5 b, and 5 c, respectively, and the emulsifieddispersion of fatty acid amide is supplied to the connecting pipe 3 froma raw material supply port 7. The slurry after being coagulated isdischarged from a discharge port 9 provided in the upper part of thesecond coagulation bath 2.

In the first coagulation bath 1, raw materials such as the latexmaterial, a coagulating agent, and water are supplied from the rawmaterial supply ports 5 a, 5 b, and 5 c to form a slurry. Then, theslurry is transferred to the second coagulation bath 2 through theconnecting pipe 3 of the first coagulation bath 1, and at this time, theemulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide is supplied from the rawmaterial supply port 7. Furthermore, the slurry transferred to thesecond coagulation bath 2 is discharged from the discharge port 9. Theslurry discharged from the discharge port 9 is washed with water,dehydrated, and dried, allowing to obtain a rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another embodiment ofthe apparatus applicable to the manufacturing method of the presentembodiment. In the apparatus in FIG. 2, the first coagulation bath 1 andthe second coagulation bath 2 are in contact with each other, and theconnecting part 4 penetrating these is provided at the upper part. Theemulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide is supplied from the rawmaterial supply port 8 directly to the connecting part 4. Others havethe same configuration as the apparatus in FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed using Examples in detail, the first embodiment is not limitedat all by these.

<Powder Sticking Evaluation>

The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was shaken with aplain weave test sieve (manufactured by Iida Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) withan aperture of 850 μm and a wire diameter of 523 μm to remove coarseparticles. 25 g of the powder passing through the sieve was weighed andplaced in a stainless mold of 50 mm in diameter and 50 mm in height, anda weight was placed from the top of the mold, and heat treatment wasperformed under a load of 3 kPa at 80° C. for 2 hours to obtain a powderlump. The powder lump obtained was set on a plain weave test sieve(manufactured by Iida Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) with an aperture of 2.8 mmand a wire diameter of 1.11 mm and was shaken for 30 seconds with avibrator (low tap sieve shaker, manufactured by Hirako Seisakusho Co.,Ltd.), and the residual percentage on sieve was measured from theweights of the powder lump before and after vibration. The lower valueshows that sticking is more suppressed.

Residual percentage=weight of powder lump after vibration (g)/weight ofpowder lump before vibration (g)×100

<Method for Manufacturing Rubbery Polymer>

130 parts by mass of pure water, 100 parts by mass of butadiene, 0.4parts by mass of normal dodecyl mercaptan, and 3 parts by mass of a 10%potassium oleate solution were supplied to a pressure-resistant reactorequipped with stirring blades, and the temperature was increased withstirring and 0.25 parts by mass of potassium persulfate was added at 65°C. Then, the temperature was increased to 70° C. and 22 parts by mass ofa 10% potassium oleate solution was added stepwise, and the reaction wascompleted in 55 hours. The average particle size of the obtainedbutadiene rubber latex (measured using FPAR-1000, manufactured by OtsukaElectronics Co., Ltd.) was 0.41 and the solid content was 39.1%.

<Method for Manufacturing Graft Copolymer>

153.45 parts by mass of the above butadiene rubber latex (60 parts bymass as a solid content) and 50 parts by mass of pure water weresupplied to a reactor equipped with stirring blades, the temperature wasincreased with stirring, 0.3 parts by mass of potassium persulfate wasadded at 60° C., when the temperature reached 65° C., a mixed monomerconsisting of 30 parts by mass of styrene and 10 parts by mass ofacrylonitrile and 20 parts by mass of a 10% potassium oleate solutionwas continuously added over 6 hours, and aging was carried out at 70° C.for 2 hours after the addition was completed. The solid content of theobtained graft copolymer latex was 37.3%.

<Emulsified Dispersion of Fatty Acid Amide>

The emulsified dispersion of ethylene bis-stearic acid amide was used ata solid content of 25% and an average particle size of 0.5 μm (measuredusing FPAR-1000, manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.).

EXAMPLE 1A

Two coagulation baths having 15 L capacity equipped with stirring bladeswere connected with a pipe at the upper portion, and the temperature ofthe first bath and the second bath were temperature controlled at 77° C.and at 93° C., respectively. 100 parts by mass of the graft copolymerlatex in terms of solid content, pure water, and 4.0 parts by mass ofmagnesium sulfate were continuously added to the first bath at a rate of5 kg/h as a treatment in terms of solid content, so that the slurryconcentration was 20%, and the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amidewas continuously added to the connecting pipe at 0.2 parts by mass withrespect to 100 parts by mass of the graft copolymer latex in terms ofsolid content.

Then, the slurry that overflowed from the upper discharge port of thesecond bath was washed with water and dehydrated, and was further driedin a hot air dryer at 85° C. for 15 hours to obtain a rubber-reinforcedstyrenic resin powder. The result of sticking evaluation of the obtainedrubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was 75%.

EXAMPLE 2A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at0.5 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The result of stickingevaluation of the obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was42%.

EXAMPLE 3A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at1.5 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The result of stickingevaluation of the obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was35%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was not added.The result of sticking evaluation of the obtained rubber-reinforcedstyrenic resin powder was 92%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at0.05 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The result of stickingevaluation of the obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was89%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was previouslyadded to the graft copolymer latex at 0.5 parts by mass in terms ofsolid content and was not supplied to the connecting pipe between thefirst bath and the second bath. The result of sticking evaluation of theobtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was 92%.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4A

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1A,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was previouslyadded to the graft copolymer latex at 2.0 parts by mass in terms ofsolid content and was not supplied to the connecting pipe between thefirst bath and the second bath. The result of sticking evaluation of theobtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was 90%.

TABLE 1 Example Example Example Comparative Comparative ComparativeComparative 1A 2A 3A Example 1A Example 2A Example 3A Example 4A Numberof parts by 0.2 0.5 1.5 — 0.05 0.5 2.0 mass supplied of emulsifieddispersion of fatty acid amide (solid content) Timing of supplyingConnecting Connecting Connecting — Connecting Previous Previousemulsified dispersion pipe pipe pipe pipe addition addition of fattyacid amide to latex to latex Preset temperature of 77 77 77 77 77 77 77the first coagulation bath (° C.) Preset temperature of 93 93 93 93 9393 93 the second coagulation bath (° C.) Evaluation of 75 42 35 92 89 9290 sticking (%)

As shown in Table 1, for the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder inExamples 1A to 3A, the aliphatic amide was adhered to the surface of thepowder during a continuous production and a good antisticking propertywas obtained.

Second Embodiment: Rubber-Reinforced Styrenic Resin Powder

The second embodiment is a rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powdercontaining 40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer, and having morethan 4.0% by mass of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plain weavewire mesh (according to JIS G3555-2004) made of stainless steel wirewith a wire diameter of 0.10 mm, wherein a fatty acid amide is presenton 50% or more of the surface of the powder.

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder of the present embodiment isobtained by coagulating the latex of the graft copolymer (A) obtained byan emulsion polymerization method with a styrenic monomer as anessential component, or a latex mixture of the latex of the graftcopolymer (A) and the copolymer (B) obtained by an emulsionpolymerization method with a styrenic monomer as an essential component.As the graft copolymer (A) and the copolymer (B), the same copolymers asin the first embodiment can be used.

The content of the rubbery polymer in the rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder of the present embodiment is 40% by mass or more and ismore preferable to be 50% by mass or more. The content of 40% by mass ormore of the rubbery polymer can improve design freedom of components ofthe final composition containing the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin soas to contribute to product specialization. The upper limit of thecontent of the rubbery polymer is not particularly limited, and forexample, it can be 90% by mass or less.

The content of the rubbery polymer in the rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder can be adjusted by the content of the rubbery polymerconstituting the graft copolymer (A) or mixing the graft copolymer (A)with the copolymer (B) in a latex state.

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder of the present embodimentcan he obtained by coagulating the latex of the graft copolymer (A), ormixing the latex of the graft copolymer (A) with the latex of thecopolymer (B) and coagulating them.

Examples of the coagulating agent used for coagulation include inorganicacids such as hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, andnitric acid; organic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid; andinorganic acid metal salts such as magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride,and aluminum sulfate. These can be used singly or in combination of twoor more.

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder can be obtained by washingwith water, dehydration, and drying after coagulation.

The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder of the present embodiment isone having more than 4.0% by mass of the powder passing through a200-mesh plain weave wire mesh (according to JIS G3555-2004) made ofstainless steel wire with a wire diameter of 0.10 mm. The ratio ofpowder passing through the plain weave wire mesh can be measured, forexample, using a Sonic Shifter (manufactured by Seishin Enterprise Co.,Ltd.). The ratio of the powder passing through the plain weave wire meshis preferable to be 7.0% by mass or more, more preferable to be 10.0% bymass or more, and still more preferable to be 11.0% by mass or more.Furthermore, the upper limit of the ratio of the powder passing throughthe plain weave wire mesh is not particularly limited, but may be, forexample, less than 30.0% by mass.

For the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder obtained by coagulation,it is necessary that the fatty acid amide is present on 50% or more ofthe surface of the powder. The presence of the fatty acid amide in theabove range can suppress the sticking of the powder.

The coverage of the fatty acid amide on the surface of the powder can bemeasured using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMSmethod).

Examples of the method for adjusting the fatty acid amide which ispresent on the surface of the powder include a method of adding thefatty acid amide powder to the powder obtained by coagulation or amethod of adding the emulsified dispersion of the fatty acid amideduring coagulation. The amount of the fatty acid amide added (solidcontent) is preferable to be 0.1 to 2 parts by mass with respect to 100parts by mass of the powder, and is more preferable to be 0.2 to 1 partsby mass. At less than 0.1 parts by mass, it is difficult to control thecoverage of the fatty acid amide which is present on the surface of thepowder to 50% or more, and at more than 2 parts by mass, there is atendency not to further contribute to an improvement in the antistickingproperty. The basis of the amount of the fatty acid amide added (solidcontent) may be 100 parts by mass in terms of the solid content of thelatex raw material, instead of the above “100 parts by mass of thepowder”.

Examples of the fatty acid amide which can be used in the presentembodiment include oleic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, stearic acidamide, and ethylene bis stearic acid amide. When a fatty acid amide isused as an emulsified dispersion, the method of emulsification anddispersion is not particularly limited, and examples thereof includemechanical dispersion such as a bead mill and a melt dispersion methodsuch as a phase inversion method. The type of the emulsifier used foremulsification and dispersion is also not particularly limited, andknown emulsifiers can be used. The emulsified dispersion of the fattyacid amide is preferable to have an average particle size of 1.0 μm orless which is confirmed by the dynamic light scattering method.

Examples of the method for adjusting the coverage of the fatty acidamide which is present on the surface of the powder to 50% or moreinclude the above methods, and among them, a method of adding theemulsified dispersion of a fatty acid amide during coagulation ispreferable. The details will be described below.

A step of coagulation can be performed in batch mode in a singlecoagulation bath or in continuous treatment mode in two or morecoagulation baths. The timing of adding the emulsified dispersion of afatty acid amide is preferable to add the dispersion after the latex isslurried with a coagulating agent. The addition after the latex isslurried allows the fatty acid amide to be efficiently present on thesurface of the powder and can suppress the sticking of the obtainedpowder. Furthermore, it is more preferable to increase the temperaturein the coagulation bath after adding the emulsified dispersion of afatty acid amide.

Examples of the method for adding the emulsified dispersion of the fattyacid amide in the continuous treatment mode include the method ofaddition to the second or later coagulation bath and the method ofaddition to the connecting pipe between coagulation baths. Among them,the method of addition to the pipe connecting the first and the secondcoagulation baths is preferable since the fatty acid amide can beefficiently present on the surface of the powder.

The temperature in the coagulating bath for coagulating and slurryingthe latex is preferable to be 80 to 95° C. When the temperature in thecoagulation bath is further increased after slurrying, a temperature of90 to 98° C. is preferable, and the temperature is preferable to be 3 to18° C. higher than the temperature in the coagulation bath to besubjected to slurrying. Furthermore, the slurry concentration ispreferable to be 20 to 30% from the viewpoint of productivity.

Hereinafter, the second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed using Examples in detail, but the second embodiment is notlimited at all by these.

<Method for Calculating the Coverage of Fatty Acid Amide Present on thePowder Surface>

The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder is sorted into a150 μm to 355 μm size powder passing through a 42 mesh wire mesh anddeposited on a 100 mesh wire mesh. The coverage of the fatty acid amidepresent on the surface of the powder was measured from the amount of thefatty acid amide detected which was secondary ionized by usingtime-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS method). Thecoverage with respect to the powder base material was determined by thefollowing formula (1), and by the average of its values from 10 samples,the coverage of 50% or more was evaluated as “good”, the coverage of 11%to 49% as “fair”, and the coverage of 10% or less as “poor”.

Coverage of fatty acid amide (%)=((Detection area of secondary ion offatty acid amide/Surface area of substrate)−(Detection area of secondaryion of substrate/Surface area of substrate×0.7))×100   Formula (1)

<Evaluation Method of Antisticking Effect>

For the obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder, the reposeangle was measured three times using Powder Tester MT-1000 (manufacturedby Seishin Enterprise Co., Ltd.), and the average value of them wasused. The repose angle is an index for evaluating the degree of stickingof the powder, and the lower value shows that the sticking is moresuppressed. For the antisticking effect, 42% or less was evaluated as“good”, 43 to 47% as “fair”, and 48% or more as “poor”.

<Measurement of Content of Powder Passing Through 200-Mesh Plain WeaveWire Mesh (According to JIS G3555-2004) Made of Stainless Steel Wirewith a Wire Diameter of 0.10 mm>

Measurement was performed using Sonic Shifter (manufactured by SeishinCo., Ltd.).

<Method for Manufacturing Rubbery Polymer>

130 parts by mass of pure water, 100 parts by mass of butadiene, 0.4parts by mass of normal dodecyl mercaptan, and 3 parts by mass of a 10%potassium oleate solution were supplied to a pressure-resistant reactorequipped with stirring blades, and the temperature was increased withstirring and 0.25 parts by mass of potassium persulfate was added at 65°C. Then, the temperature was increased to 70° C. and 22 parts by mass ofa 10% potassium oleate solution was added stepwise, and the reaction wascompleted in 55 hours. The average particle size of the obtainedbutadiene rubber latex (measured using FPAR-1000, manufactured by OtsukaElectronics Co., Ltd.) was 0.41 μm, and the solid content was 39.1%.

<Method for Manufacturing Graft Copolymer>

153.45 parts by mass of the above butadiene rubber latex (60 parts bymass as a solid content) and 50 parts by mass of pure water weresupplied to a reactor equipped with stirring blades; the temperature wasincreased with stirring; 0.3 parts by mass of potassium persulfate wasadded at 60° C.; the temperature reached 65° C. and then a mixed monomerconsisting of 30 parts by mass of styrene and 10 parts by mass ofacrylonitrile and 20 parts by mass of a 10% potassium oleate solutionwas continuously added over 6 hours; and the addition was completed andthen aging was carried out at 70° C. for 2 hours. The solid content ofthe obtained graft copolymer latex was 37.3%.

<Emulsified Dispersion of Fatty Acid Amide>

The emulsified dispersion of ethylene bis stearic acid amide was used ata solid content of 25% and an average particle size of 0.4 μm (measuredusing FPAR-1000, manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.).

EXAMPLE 1B

Pure water was charged to a single type coagulation bath equipped withstirring blades so that the slurry concentration became 18% when 100parts by mass of the graft copolymer latex in terms of solid content wascompletely added to the bath at the entire amount. Then, 4.0 parts bymass of magnesium sulfate was added and the temperature was increased to75° C. with stirring. After the temperature reached 75° C., 100 parts bymass of the graft copolymer latex in terms of solid content was added tothe inside of the bath, and after completion of the addition, 0.2 partsby mass of the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added interms of solid content. After the addition, the temperature in the bathwas heated to 90° C., after the temperature reached 90° C., thetemperature was maintained for 5 minutes, and then washing with water,dehydration, and further drying at 85° C. for 15 hours with a hot airdrier were performed. Then, the dried product was treated for 30 secondswith a mixer type pulverizer to obtain a rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder. The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder wascharacterized by: a repose angle of 41°; a content of the powder passingthrough a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh of 14%; a good antistickingeffect; and a good coverage of the fatty acid amide.

EXAMPLE 2B

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1B,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at0.5 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The obtainedrubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was characterized by: a reposeangle of 38°; a content of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plainweave wire mesh of 13%; a good antisticking effect; and a good coverageof the fatty acid amide.

EXAMPLE 3B

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1B,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at1.5 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The obtainedrubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was characterized by: a reposeangle of 36°; a content of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plainweave wire mesh of 15%; a good antisticking effect; and a good coverageof the fatty acid amide.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1B

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1B,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was not added.The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was characterizedby: a repose angle of 49°; a content of the powder passing through a200-mesh plain weave wire mesh of 14%; a poor antisticking effect; and apoor coverage of the fatty acid amide.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2B

Pure water was charged to a single type coagulation bath equipped withstirring blades so that the slurry concentration became 18% when 100parts by mass of the graft copolymer latex in terms of solid content wascompletely added to the bath at the entire amount. Then, 4.0 parts bymass of magnesium sulfate was added and the temperature was increased to75° C. with stirring. After the temperature reached 75° C., a mixture of100 parts by mass of the graft copolymer latex in terms of solid contentand 2.0 parts by mass of the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amidewas added, after completion of the addition, the temperature in the bathwas heated to 90° C., after the temperature reached 90° C., thetemperature was maintained for 5 minutes, and then washing with water,dehydration, and further drying at 85° C. for 15 hours with a hot airdrier were performed. Then, the dried product was treated for 30 secondswith a mixer type pulverizer to obtain a rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder. The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder wascharacterized by: a repose angle of 48°; a content of the powder passingthrough a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh of 13%; a poor antistickingeffect; and a poor coverage of the fatty acid amide.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3B

The treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1B,except that the emulsified dispersion of fatty acid amide was added at0.05 parts by mass in terms of solid content. The obtainedrubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder was characterized by: a reposeangle of 27°; a content of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plainweave wire mesh of 13%; a poor antisticking effect; and a fair coverageof the fatty acid amide.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4B

Pure water was previously charged to a single type coagulation bathequipped with stirring blades so that the slurry concentration became18% when 100 parts by mass of the graft latex in terms of solid contentwas completely added at the entire amount. Then, 4.0 parts by mass ofmagnesium sulfate was added and the temperature was increased to 75° C.with stirring. After the temperature reached 75° C., 100 parts by massof the graft copolymer latex in terms of solid content was added, aftercompletion of the addition, the temperature in the bath was heated to90° C., after the temperature reached 90° C., the temperature wasmaintained for 5 minutes, and then 0.5 parts by mass of the emulsifieddispersion of fatty acid amide was added in teems of solid content andmaintained for 10 minutes. After the addition, washing with water,dehydration, and further drying at 85° C. for 15 hours with a hot airdrier were performed. Then, the dried product was treated for 30 secondswith a mixer type pulverizer to obtain a rubber-reinforced styrenicresin powder. The obtained rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder wascharacterized by: a repose angle of 44°; a content of the powder passingthrough a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh of 13%; a poor antistickingeffect; and a fair coverage of the fatty acid amide.

TABLE 2 Example Example Example Comparative Comparative ComparativeComparative 1B 2B 3B Example 1B Example 2B Example 3B Example 4B Numberof parts by   0.2   0.5   1.5 —  2 0.05   0.5 mass added of fatty acidamide Timing of adding After ← ← — Addition After After heat fatty acidamide complete to latex complete treatment addition addition of slurryof latex of latex Content of 14 13 15 14 13 13 13 powder (%)*Antisticking effect good good good poor poor poor poor Coverage of fattygood good good poor poor fair fair acid amide *Content of powder passingthrough a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh

As shown in Table 2, since the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powdersin Examples 1B to 3B satisfied the coverage of the aliphatic amide onthe surface of the powder defined in the present invention, a goodantisticking property was obtained.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder of thepresent invention is excellent in antisticking property, and henceexcellent in storage stability and a handling property. Therefore, therubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder can be suitably used on siteswherein the rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder is manufactured andhandled.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: The first coagulation bath; 2: The second coagulation bath; 3:Connecting pipe; 4: Connecting part; 5 a, 5 b, 7, and 8: Raw materialsupply port; and 9: Discharge port.

1. (canceled)
 2. A rubber-reinforced styrenic resin powder comprising40% by mass or more of a rubbery polymer, and having more than 4.0% bymass of the powder passing through a 200-mesh plain weave wire mesh(according to JIS G3555-2004) made of stainless steel wire with a wirediameter of 0.10 mm, wherein a fatty acid amide is present on 50% ormore of the surface of the powder.